Method of resaturating fibrous packing



Ot. 5, 1937. G, E. HWZ 2,094,692

METHOD oF RESATURATING FIBRoUs PACKING Original Filed-June 7, 1933I y Stwentot eorgefdward )(512,

' 4 Cttorneg Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED sTATEs METHOD OF RESATURATING FIBROUS PACKING George Edward Hitz,-Poughkeepsie, N. Y., assignor to The United Gas Improvement Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 7, 1933, Serial No. 674,699 Renewed March 1, 1937 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of treating the joints of gas mains and pipes of the cast iron bell and spigot types, or other types and .materials which incorporate in their assembly the use of packing for the joints, such as jute,

or other suitable material which is backed up with a suitable material, to render them impervious to leakage of the contained gas from the i pipe line or conductor to the surrounding earth or atmosphere.

The invention relates especially to gas transmission and distribution systems, which have been for some period utilized for the conveyance of gas or gases completely saturated with Water vapor, tar vapor, napthalene, toluene, benzene' and other condensable hydrocarbons and similar constituents, and these agents were deposited by condensation Within the gas main or conduit and were absorbedl by the joint packing; and this process being of av continuingvnature, rendered the joints gas tight during the period of the saturated gas.

In recent years in many localities, gas manufactured and distributed locally has been superseded by a supply of natural gas, manufactured v gas or -mixtures of the two coming from a distant source. In order to deliver the gas over a distance, it is necessary to compress it at the source to medium or high pressures ranging from'l# per square inch to over 300# in some cases, and where manufactured gas is transmitted in this pressure range the humidity of the gas is reduced to a point below complete saturation.

As a result of this condition the gas tends to absorb any moisture present in the joints of the distribution system which was previously deposited by condensation from the saturatedgas, and in other Words gas which is completely saturated will deposit condensation of wate-r vapor, light oil vapor and other constituents asv the temperature of the pipe or conduit is reduced below the temperature at which the gas was originally saturated, either from contact in a water sealed gas holder or from the particular process of gas manufacture.

With the introduction of the partially saturated or dry-glas a reverse action is set up, and in this case the gas has an ainity for moisture and absorbs any oil or water present in the packing of the joints of the pipe line or its connections, rendering it dry and susceptible to leakage through the joints to the surrounding 55 earth or atmosphere.

The 4object of the present invention is to y provide a simple, efficient and economical process to introduce a medium to saturate the fibrous packing in existing conventional type bell and spigot gas main joints Without exposing said joints by excavation, and without mechanical changes or additions to said joints. y

The object of the invention is to provide a sealing medium that lwill .readily and quickly resaturate the packing in the pipe joints and maintain such a saturated condition for a long-period of time, and such a sealing medium must have certain characteristics that will adapt it both physically and economically for the purpose for which it is to be used. l

y Such a sealing medium or compound should have the following characteristics:

(l) The liquid must not be corrosive to steel, wrought iron, cast iron, malleable iron, cement, rubber, brass, copper or aluminumlas some or all of these materials are' used in the construction of gas transmission and distribution mains.

(2), The liquid must have a proper viscosity factor to insure travell through the conveying pipes or conduits and for the proper absorption of the liquid by the packing through capillary attraction.

(3) The liquid must have a low vapor pressure lat ordinary temperatures as experienced in the ground at depths of two to four feet and in the atmosphere. This is necessary to prevent abi sorption of the liquid by the gas, and thereby remove the material from the packing of the joint.

(4) The liquid should be hygroscopic to insure 3 Diethylene glycol, CHzOH-CHzOCHz-CH-:OH: Ethylene glycol, CHzOlI-CHzOH; or

Mixtures of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.

a high boiling point In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of an under ground gas pipe service line, illustrating two methods for introducing the sealing liquid to the joints.

Figure 2 is a similar view of an under ground pipe line, andfshows 'another method of treating the joints with the sealing liquid.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a pipe joint to illustrate the manner of packing the same.

The following methods are to be considered as a part of the invention as they are all closely related and all or part may be applicable to speciiic cases.

(1) The liquid sealing compound may be introduced by gravitational ilow from the end of the pipe line I0, at an elevation above that part of the gas main to be treated, by the use of a feed pipe II, connected at its lower end to said gas main I0, and at its upper end to a feed tank I2, placed above the ground or roadway I3, or such a feed tank I2 may be connected to the upper end of a service feed pipe5|4 that leads to a building, and is connected to the gas main.

When this method is employed, the liquid is admitted to the gas main at a rate consistent with the gradient of the gas main to be treated, the liquidpassing from the feed tank I2 through the pipe I I to the main I0, through which it flows by. gravity and meets that annular space 20 existing at the gasj main joint where the spigot end 2I of one length of pipe meets the bell 22 of the other length of pipe, and by referring to Figure 3, showing such a joint in detail, it shows that the bell 22 is formed with an outer ange 23 and an inner annular groove 24, and that the end of the other length of pipe is formed with a beaded end 25, and that the pipe end 2l and the bell end 22 are so mounted together that an annular packing space is left between the two, and this space extends between the bead 25 and the bottom of the bell 22, forming an annular space 22; within which is calked the iibrous material such as jute 28, which extendswithin the bell 22 around the pipe end 26 to a point adjacent the groove 24, and upon this packing is placed the lead packing 21 in the usual manner, and from this it will be seen that the juteor ilbrous packing communicates with the interior of the pipe in such a Way that it will readily be treated with the liquid which is taken up by absorption and capillary attraction.

By a continuing action over a period of time, the joint packing 28 is completely saturated with the liquid and the packing 28 and joint rendered impervious to gas iiow, due to the expansion of the packing 28 and the closing of the interstices 4of the joint.

`liquid may be pumped through the pipe 3| by the hand pump 32 located abovel the ground `I3 and. discharged into a pail 33er other container.

In order to introduce the liquid into the gas main against any gas pressure carried therein,

a device, herewith illustrated in the drawing asvr the feed tank I2 is employed, and this comprises a tank designed to withstand the prevailing gas pressure, and iitted with a gas pressure equalizing pipey I6 extending from the gas pressure side at the tank outlet, to a point at the top of the tank, thereby neutralizing the eiect of the gas pressure against the liquid head. 'Ihe tank I2 is also provided with a filler opening in the top fitted with a gas tightl filler plug I8, and a gage glass I1, is mounted on the side of the tank I2 to provide means for gaging the liquid height and rate of input or feed from the tank. (2) By cutting a lateral main (branch from a line at right'angles to it, which is so constructed as to prevent the flow of ,liquid from the main line to the lateral or branch line) at a convenient point where the main may be separated from the continuing lateral main, either by divorcing it, or -by bagging. A feed pipe is then connected to the top of the main and extended to a height above the highest point' in the main to be treated and the liquid is fed from the tank I2, or other suitable apparatus until the liquid level in the riser pipe is above the highest elevation of the pipe to be treated. 'I'he liquid is allowed to remain in the pipe for a suitable length'oi time and is then removed by a syphon, gravity or pumping.

It will be understood that if apacking ma terial has been treated or otherwise rendered wholly non-absorbentin character such, for instance, as by the application and drying of tar, impregnation will obviously require the absorbent condition to be restored prior to or during the course of the treatment set forth herein as described and claimed in copending application, Serial No. 128,556 filed March 1, 1937 by John R. Skeen. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A method of opposing leakage at the fiber packed joints of gas pipes which comprises flowing hygroscopic sealing fluid alongv the bottom of the inside of a gas pipe into contact with a portion of the fiber packing of successive joints, and raising the sealing fluid into other portions of said fibrous packings by capillary action.

2. Method of leak-proong packed bell and spigot joints in gas conduits which comprises internally contactingthe brous packing in said joints with a relatively non-v latile, mildly viscous, hydroscopic liquid whic is substantially inert with respect to the gas in said conduits.

3. The method of leak-proofing packed bell and spigot joints ina gas conduits without interrupting service which comprises introducing a relatively non-volatile, mildly viscous, hygroscopic liquid which is substantially inert with respect to the gas inA said conduits and allowing said liquid to ow by gravity to low points in said conduits, whereby the packing in said joints is internally moistened with said liquid.

GEORGE EDWARD HI'IZ. 

